07 July 2009

Slow Cooked Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Getting Started

My daughter has called me several times since she moved away this summer. She often calls around dinner time to tell me about what she is planning to cook for dinner or what she is making to take in her lunch the next day.

Sometimes she has a question about what she is cooking. As she was planning her menus one evening she decided she wanted to try Four-Pepper Pasta. The challenge was that it required a lot of ingredients she hadn’t collected yet, several different herbs as well as picante sauce, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. It also calls for a variety of peppers which can be expensive when they are not in season. I suggested she use less expensive green bell peppers in place of the more colorful ones (at least until they are in season), choose just one herb to experiment with for now and substitute another vinegar if she couldn’t find balsamic at a reasonable price.

I was reminded that cooking can be a substantial creative challenge when you are starting out or are on a limited budget for any reason. Most of us were there at one time or another but for some of us it has been a while and it can be a challenge to remember.

Keeping It Simple

Since then I have been more conscious of what goes into the recipes I have been cooking so that I can make recommendations to her when I remember something easy or simple or inexpensive that is also delicious. For the 4th of July I often make Pulled Pork Sandwiches. There are several different ways I do it. Some are more complicated than others but this year, looking over the meat case, I decided to buy a boneless top sirloin pork roast and to cook it in my Crock Pot. When I put it on to cook I decided to keep it simple. I added only salt and pepper and a little water.

The result was simply wonderful! The meat was tender and delicious. There was no fat to be cut off and thrown away, no bones to be removed. When the meat was tender I quickly pulled it apart and it was ready to go on sandwiches with a little barbecue sauce.

So here’s one for my daughter and anyone who enjoys a good meaty Pulled Pork Barbecue Sandwich that could scarcely be simpler to prepare.

Place the pork roast in a slow cooker. Pour the water over the roast and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Cover and cook on a low setting for 8 to 10 hours, or until the pork roast is cooked through and tender enough to be easily pulled apart with a fork.

Remove the pork roast from the slow cooker and place in a serving dish. With two forks, pushed into the meat close together, pull the meat in opposite directions. Repeat and continue until the meat is separated into bite sized pieces.

Pour accumulated pan juices over the meat 1/4 cup at a time, stirring each time until fully absorbed. Repeat several times if desired but do not add so much that the juices gather in the bottom of the dish.

Serve on sandwich buns with barbecue sauce.

Note: This recipe is easily doubled for a crowd. I put two boneless pork sirloin roasts in my ancient Crock Pot last weekend and they were ready to eat in approximately 10 - 12 hours. Cooking time will vary. Just make sure the meat is cooked through and pulls apart easily.

pulled pork drenched in barbecue sauce with cole slaw on the side will always symbolize home to me. just seeing your pictures and reading your lovely words makes me miss it more than ever--thank heavens for the telephone and the technology to send pictures back and forth!

Mmm ... I love pulled pork. Love, love, love it. I've never made it in a slow cooker, so you know I'll have to try this. How cool that your daughter not only calls you, but also is continuing on with your cooking talent! Excellent!

I love doing pork this way! I haven't made pulled pork in a long time, I should as it makes alot and I can have it for many meals which is great for summertime. It is neat to hear how your daughter is cooking more and more of your recipes. She is saving so much money by cooking for herself and I am sure it is way healthier for her too.

Claudia - Great question! I know this could be cooked in a Dutch oven but I'm afraid I don't know the time conversion. I tried to look it up but didn't find an answer that satisfied me and I have little experience cooking with a Dutch oven. Actually I'd like to try that myself. I don't blame you for not wanting to load up on extra appliances though. I got my Crock Pot as a wedding gift almost 30 years ago.